I get so excited during this time of year because fall is finally upon us! Fall is my favorite time of year because there are so many activities in New England. And as Massachusetts is known for its spectacular fall foliage, one of my favorite places to visit is the Quabbin Reservoir.

Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest man-made public water supplies in the United States. Developed in the 1930s, Quabbin covers 39 square miles. To create the reservoir, four complete towns had to be relocated.

As Quabbin’s function is to provide drinking water for the Greater Boston area, there are many regulations for visiting — however, none of them should deter you from visiting the area.

The scenery is just stunning. In fact, the regulations for use provide a wonderful sanctuary for wildlife; black bears, whitetail deer, moose, and even bald eagles are regularly spotted in the area.

Every fall, my wife and I drive to Quabbin to view the foliage. We generally start out by driving into the Winsor Dam entrance off Rt. 9 in Ware, MA. Upon entering, visitors are immediately hit with gorgeous foliage colors. We then drive over to the lookout tower to park, and climb the to the top to view the region with a ‘birds-eye view’ of all the surrounding foliage.

Aside from the lookout tower, there are various other scenic areas within Quabbin. Another particularly good spot is on Rt. 202 that runs along on the western side of Quabbin; you’ll find a small pullover area on the right side if traveling north. The view is spectacular.

Along Rt. 202, there are apple orchards where you can get delicious apple cider, donuts, and various other tasty fall treats. There is nothing better than an apple cider donut or some warm cider while watching the fantastic scenery full of reds, oranges, and yellows. Quabbin has so much to offer, much more than I described in this post — so feel free to explore the whole area. I bet you’ll return year after year.

Benjamin Libbey is a blogger and avid outdoor enthusiast. Born and raised in Western Massachusetts. Ben’s lifelong hobbies include hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Outside of his day job, Ben can be found on the mountains and rivers of New England — seeking both adventure and tranquility in the great outdoors. You can check out his blog, Outdoors Ben, and also find him on Facebook and Twitter @Outdoorsben.